As a teacher for the last 28 years, I have continued my education and have been a lifelong learner. A Bachelor of Science degree, followed by a Master's degree was the plan. I completed those degrees. Then, I reenrolled in a second Master's program. I took classes while I held down a fulltime teaching position. Nights and weekends were when papers were written. I instilled a love of education into my daughter. We would do our homework together. Tackling the doctorate was next. All the while, I was racking up a student loan balance that is equal to the price of a house- picture a beautiful house with land, as I amassed over $250,000 in student loan debt.  Deferments, forbearances, rolling all the balances together, you name it, I tried it in order to postpone payments on a teacher's salary. Dedication and the desire to make a difference in the lives of tiny humans came with a price. Not only are teachers a master of their craft, but most of us are also jugglers. We juggle one bill to the next, sometimes living from cut off notice to the next when deciding where our money has to be spent. We feed our families, and sometimes the students in our classes that are hungry. We provide for the kids that need shoes or a coat, or just wanted that book from the Book Fair or the monthly Firefly book order sheet sent home. Do you remember those?? Such fond memories! 

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     What hit home for me recently was a conversation with my daughter's best friend. The two girls graduated college a few years ago and my daughter's friend has a wonderful job. We broached the topic of salary and how public servant (teacher) salaries are public knowledge. Anyone can actually look up a person's name and wage if employed by a school system. So, she knew I had been working at that time for 25 years and had not hit $75,000 a year, even with multiple degrees. She, on the other hand, had surpassed my salary with only her Bachelor's degree and just three years of experience. Public school teachers are paid on a scale equivalent to the step/year of service. There is no way to talk salary amounts and negotiate a great deal. It doesn't matter how well you do your job. Salaries do not always increase yearly. In fact, several years ago - for two years, our salaries were cut by 3% and we were darn lucky if we were able to keep our position, as some teacher positions were cut due to budgetary restrictions.

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    I am giving you some of this background so non-teachers can see the struggle. Teachers make a difference; however, teachers are leaving education at an alarming rate and students are being taught by annual subs or long-term substitutes without formal training. Expectations are the same for kids, whether they are being taught by a licensed teacher or not. Teachers are now faced with unrealistic expectations for growth in all academic areas, and if a student does not succeed... hmmm... what could the teacher have done differently? We take work home to do on nights and weekends. We stay late or go in early to prepare or to meet with parents. Can you imagine being told by your boss that you have to work an extra hour, let alone 10, for no additional compensation? Also, teachers are not paid for extended breaks and summer. The ten months that are contracted are paid over a twelve-month period. I just wanted to add that misconception in there. Many teachers work second jobs to survive. There is research that shows all of the second job numbers.

 

     So, here is the idea I had. Create a company that will help teachers with some of the financial burden by making a $1000 dent in the balance on a student loan.  A Teacher Inspired Me is rooted in the belief that teachers are forever learners who need a little (a lot) of help paying for the degree. Whether continuing to take classes, or stop after the Bachelor's degree, college is expensive. Continuing to educate oneself as a teacher is expected because there are professional development points that have to be satisfied in order to be approved for a new license every few years.  Student loans are growing (interest compiles) and let's be real - salaries are not keeping up with the growth.

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     Teachers can apply for the loan payment as often as they want. There are only a few criteria to satisfy. I want to help these people who are helping our children on a daily basis by taking away some of the worry.

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     Help me by donating to this cause. I want to do what the politicians are not able to do. Help me wipe out student loan debt for teachers and other public school professionals.

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